Dolphins Elite 1st Round OT signs to big 3-year Extension

Dolphins RT stays in Miami

Following his dramatic improvement of form under head coach Mike McDaniel , Miami has decided to sign right side tackle Austin Jackson to a three-year extension worth approximately $36 million.  The contract will lock Jackson with Miami up until the 2027 offseason.

Jackson was drafted with the 18th overall pick in the 2020 draft with the intend to become the franchises cornerstone left tackle but he struggled for his first two seasons in the NFL.  The Dolphins would ultimately move him over to right tackle.  When McDaniel took over in 2022, Jackson became an instrumental cog to the high-speed ground attack that McDaniels wanted to build.

Jackson was rated as the number one offensive tackle in football in Week 13 by Pro Football Focus and 36th overall in the league this season, marking a dramatic improvement from the past several seasons that lead to Miami electing to not sign him to his fifth-year option two years ago.

Jackson is also critical because while a typical right tackle is considered less significant than their counterpart on the left side of the line, Miami quarterback Tua Tago’vailoa is left-handed.  This establishes Jackson as the critical blind-side tackle particularly following the concussion hellscape that Tago’vailoa endured in 2022.

Salary Cap implications for the Dolphins

As it goes for all good teams, Miami will be in hot water for the foreseeable future in regard to the salary cap.  After signing players like Tyreek Hill and Jalen Ramsey to record contracts, giving their right tackle a huge extension would have made things difficult for Miami.  Therefore, locking down an up-and-coming blind side tackle for $12 million per year seems like a major bargain.

In the offseason, the Dolphins have a long list of defensive talent that they will need to make decisions on including defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel.  Wilkins has been critical in the dramatic turnaround for Miami’s defense over the course of the season.  Miami will also need to lock down contracts for big pieces on their offensive line as center Connor Williams and right guard Robert Hunt are both set to hit free agency in the offseason.  An astutely frugal extension for the key right tack will make McDaniel’s much easier when the offseason begins.

Miami will look to close out the end of the season as a clear candidate to make a Super Bowl run.  While being the strongest conference by far, the AFC clearly lacks a dominant performance as Patrick Mahomes has struggled offensively with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens lack a consistent passing attack.  Miami is currently tied with both teams for the number one seed in the AFC and a first round bye.